Sharpe joins Wallabies coaching staff

Former Australian captain Nathan Sharpe has joined the Wallabies coaching staff ahead of the British and Irish Lions series.

Sharpe has been appointed coaching consultant and will assist forwards coach Andrew Blades as part of Robbie Deans's team.

The 116-Test veteran retired after last year's Wallabies Spring Tour, having never played a Test against the Lions.

"It was nice to be asked to be involved. I'm looking forward to doing all I can to help get the team ready for what is coming," Sharpe said.

"It's a once every 12 years opportunity isn't it?

"I'd like to have played for Australia against the Lions but it wasn't to be. The fact that you can play for 11 seasons at Test level as I did and not get to play against them shows both how rare the opportunity is and how much of a privilege it will be for the guys to represent the Wallabies in this series."

Sharpe is the second-most capped Wallaby behind George Gregan and captained the side on 10 occasions.

He is expected to play a big role in preparing Australia's line-out and Deans said the decision to involve Sharpe was a straight forward one.

"Perhaps the only difference from the role he had last year is that he won't be putting his boots on," Dean said.

"His experience, leadership and tactical nous will be available to both the playing group and the coaching staff as it was last year."

The other new addition to the coaching staff is strength and conditioning coach Scott Murphy who returns to Australia after working with English side Saracens.